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Haunted Houses Around The U.S.

October 5, 2012 6:00 AM

Credit: Spanishgovernorspalace.org

Halloween is just around the corner, so this seems like the perfect time to take a look at some of the most notoriously haunted houses in the country. No, these aren’t the charge-admission-to-get-scared-by-out-of-work-actors kind of haunted houses. These are the real deal. Real locations with dark stories of sordid and terrifying pasts.

It made the Travel Channel’s list of The Most Terrifying Places in America. Yes, the Whaley House is said to be one of the most active paranormal sights in the country. The alleged hauntings of the Whaley house document back to 1852 when “Yankee Jim” was hanged on the site where the house stands today, and “Jim” is just one of the many spirits said to make the Whaley house his home.

Mrs. Winchester, the heiress to the Winchester Rifle fortune built the house, though her fear and guilt over the many deaths caused by her family’s rifle tormented her. The story goes that Mrs. Winchester believed that she was to be haunted for the rest of her life, so she built her home to accommodate the spirits, continually building and adding additions until she, herself, passed away. Over 38 years, 160 rooms were built into the house, and tours of the mysterious home are offered daily.

The General Wayne Inn was one the longest continually operating restaurants in the United States, having opened its doors in 1704. The general store, tavern, and wagon stop reportedly served William Penn, George Washington, and Edgar Allan Poe, just to name a few. It’s a wonder, then, just how many different spirits could reside in such a historic place. Reports suggest many Revolutionary War soldiers have been seen at the inn, including one that accidentally got locked in the basement and died while hiding from his enemies. Today, the General Wayne Inn is the Chabad Center for Jewish Life.

The Joshua Ward House was built on the same site as the home that belonged to George Corwin, the sheriff that was responsible for many of the hangings during the Salem Witch Trials. It was reported that the sheriff used an old law to allow him to crush a suspected witch with rocks, though the Sherif himself died of unknown causes. In the Joshua Ward House, alarms are set off by themselves, photos have been taken capturing ghostly figures, and there is even one corner that is always cold.

Perhaps the most notoriously haunted hotel in the country is the famous Stanley Hotel, a hotel so spooky that it inspired Stephen King to write “The Shining.” F. O. Stanley and his wife, Flora, are said to still be “in residence” at the Stanley Hotel. Guests often report hearing piano music, and many guests report their belongings being packed or unpacked on their own. Ghosts at The Stanley are so popular that the hotel offers history and ghosts tours year-round.

Located just off the Savannah River is the Pirates House, built back in 1753, and still open to the public today. Yes, the Pirates House was opened to provide seafaring folk with a spot to stay and fill up for the night. However, it is said that many captains and crewmen would literally abduct able-bodied men at the Pirates House by hitting them over the head and dragging them out to sea. Today, strange maniacal laughter is heard coming from the upstairs area, and many people claim to have seen the ghost of Captain Flint made famous by Robert Louis Stevenson in the adventure novel, “Treasure Island.”

Completed in 1908, the Glensheen Mansion was a showcase of luxury and design. Unfortunately, there are some dark mysteries that allegedly haunt the mansion’s past. It is said that a woman and her nurse were murdered in the Glensheen Mansion by the woman’s ex-lover. Today, the two women can be seen haunting the home, turning lights on and off, and even showing themselves as black shadowed figures.

Built in 1749, the Spanish Governor’s Mansion was fully restored in the 1930’s. Legend has it that while the building was being restored, the skeleton of a woman was found. Supposedly, the woman had been raped and killed by a mob of Spanish soldiers, and ever since the discovery of the woman’s skeleton, it is said that the woman haunts the beautiful mansion.

Deborah Flomberg is a theater professional, freelance writer and Denver native. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.